James Rivett-Carnac (Royal Navy officer)

Vice-Admiral James William Rivett-Carnac CB CBE DSC DL (12 February 1891 – 9 October 1970) was a Royal Navy officer who became Commodore commanding the New Zealand Division.

James Rivett-Carnac
Rivett-Carnac (left) on board HMS Rodney, April 1943
Born12 February 1891
Died9 October 1970 (1970-10-10) (aged 79)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Navy
Years of service1910–1947
RankVice Admiral
CommandsHMS Rodney
Quartermaster (British Pacific Fleet)
New Zealand Division
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Cross
Mentioned in despatches
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Born the younger son of Rev. Sir Clennel George Rivett-Carnac, 6th Baronet, Rivett-Carnac joined the Royal Navy in 1910[1] and served in World War I and was mentioned in despatches.[2] He became Commodore commanding the New Zealand Division in December 1938.[3] He also served in World War II as Director of Training and Staff Duties at the Admiralty from April 1940[3] and as Commanding Officer of the battleship HMS Rodney from 1941 before becoming rear-admiral in charge of the Normandy beaches during the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944.[4] In March 1945 he was appointed Rear-Admiral Q British Pacific Fleet until June 1945, then made acting Vice-Admiral with the new title of Vice-Admiral Q British Pacific Fleet he was responsible for organising logistical support of the BPF, including logistic activities ashore and for the ships of the Fleet Train until April 1946.[5] He was mentioned in despatches twice during World War II.[2] He retired in 1947.[1]

In retirement he lived in Bury St Edmunds and became Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk.[2]

He is buried in the churchyard of St. Martin's parish church in Fornham St. Martin in Suffolk.[6]

Family

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He married Isla Nesta Blackwood.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b U-Boat.net
  2. ^ a b c d The Peerage.com
  3. ^ a b Senior Royal Navy Appointments Archived 2012-03-15 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Obituary: Canon Sir Nicholas Rivett-Carnac, Bt The Telegraph, 20 May 2004
  5. ^ Houterman, Hans; Koppes, Jeroen. "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 - R - Rivett-Carnac, James William". www.unithistories.com. Netherlands: Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  6. ^ "The Rivett-Carnac's of Fornham St Martin". Godfrey Dykes. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
Military offices
Preceded by Commodore commanding the New Zealand Division
1938–1939
Succeeded by